TOURS IN CROOKDOM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3708, 25 October 1927, Page 4

TOURS IN CROOKDOM.

THRILLS AND SHUDDERS. For the sum of seven shillings and sixpence it is now possible to take a char-a-banc tour through the “Underworld” of London. This is the latest enterprise of the tourist companies in catering for the instruction and amusement of the enormous number of American and Colonial tourists who are pouring into London by every boattrain. Wishing to learn about the criminal side of the great metropolis a representative of the Sunday News handed over three half-crowns and took his seat in one of the large ehar-a-bancs waiting to take the uninitiated from the safe security of the upper-wox’ld to the dangerous though fascinating underworld —peopled by those who live outside thq pale of the law! Chinatown was the first objective of the tour, and as the char-a-banc rumbled its way over the cobbled stones of Pennyfields, strange tales were bawled through a megaphone about the opium dens which were secreted behind the mysterious shuttered windows on either side. From the shadows of Chinatown the vehicle hooted its noisy way through Whitechapel, where iniquitous dens of criminality were pointed out on all sides. “The only ginpalace existent in London to-day,” and a house “where sailors are {nightly drugged and robbed!” were objects of great interest. The exact locality of the “Jack the Ripper” murders brought a shudder from the women passengers, and safety was again looked for in the number of men present, and in the armed condition of the “human encyclopaedia” of London’s Underworld, who balanced himself .precariously beside the driver. “THE FESTERING LESION.” A number of lasears in black eaps and ill-fitting slops were pointed out as “.the festering lesion of coloured seamen who bring the criminality of the East to polute the West —a constant danger to white girls in dockland who are daily the object of molestation at the hands of lasears!” From the noisy and shadowy East End underworld the char-a-banc speeded West —to the Jazzmad “Black Colony” abutting the Tottenham Court Road. Here little cafes winked at the party- —the strains of syncopated music issued forth, and large Ethiopians —out of place in their European clothes — strolled about with garishly dressed white girls on their arms. THE REAL NIGHT LIFE. “Such scenes are of hourly occurrence,” boomed the megaphone once more, as the party passed a crowd surrounding two large sons of Africa engaged in a rough and tumble. Soon the helmets of the police appeared, and the crowd disappeared into the air, leaving the combatants to face the minions of the law. ' “This is Soho,” said the megaphone, “known commonly as Drugland, because of the enormous amount of traffic in drugs which takes place in this part on London. “We are now in what may be called London’s Montmartre,” cried the guide, “it is here that you see the real night life of London. On our right is one of London’s most famous night clubs, and it has been raided more than any other club in the Wiest End.” “Piccadilly Circus, the hub of the universe,” said the megaphone impressively. “It is said by Scotland Yard that if they want a criminal they will meet him here —if they wait long enough!” “SUICIDE ALLEY.” “Westminster Bridge! From here you get the finest view of London by night!” cried the conductor. “On your left you see ‘Suicide Alley’'— from that part of the Thames Embankment hundreds of men and women have thrown themselves into the river.” ■ Ten minutes later the char-a-banc came to a standstill, and the band of tourists descended safe and sound once more in the upperworld. These tours of the “underworld”, are likely to become the most popular amongst the tours of London, and several additional cars have beep placed on the service. The organisers of these tours have received a great number of offers from genuine criminals to guide the “underworld” cars through the labyrinths of the criminal London.

The impression left after one of these tours is that our great metropolis leaves the Cities of the Plain very much in the shade —in fact, the underworld explorer returns convinced that he has visited the home of every form of criminality: from murder to “cat” burglary, to say nothing of drugs, gambling, opium dens—and haunts of the worst description.